Thursday Caucus

• 9:30AM Welcome Mary Paradise, Co-chair
• Report Michael Simpson - NEA Office of General Counsel
• Members provided document with several recent court decisions regarding GLBT teachers and students.
  
• Locals should seek anti-discrimination language in their contracts.
  
• Question raised by member regarding clause of "moral turpitude" in code of ethics. No specific response made.
  
• Member raised point that there is "language" in Superintendent's policy. Legal counsel urged for additional language in the contract.
• What about Right to Work states? Should still bring it to School Board with request for inclusive language.
• Important case that was mentioned last year is Garcetti v. Ceballos where the Supreme Court ruled that public employees do not have 1st Amendment Rights in the workplace.
• Linda Bacon -Interim Manager from NEA spoke regarding the work that NEA continues to do through HCR regarding achievement gap issues for GLBT students.
• Dr. Sheila Simmons - Director of HCR. Budget - Funding is now in budget to cover travel and expenses for GLBT Cadre of trainers. ABCD Goals
• A. Achieving Social Justice
• B.
• C.
• D. Diversity is value added
• Goals & Tactics to examine learning and working conditions of students and employees.